The Professor’s Buccaneers’ 3-Round Mock Draft 1.0

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From now until draft day we’ll have several writers and contributors posting numerous Buccaneers’ mocks. It’s that time of season, put on your GM hat and let’s get to work

In this mock, we welcome The Professor Johnny Dean from “The NFL Edition” to the mock draft world. Johnny looks to fortify the trenches while adding an LB/EDGE in this mock.

Round-1 (19th)

O’Cyrus Torrence OG, Florida

HT: 6’5
WT: 330 lbs

Accolades:

• Consensus All-American (2022)
• AFCA First Team All-America (2022)
• Sporting News First Team All-America (2022)
• AP First Team All-America (2022)
• FWAA Second Team All-America (2022)
• Walter Camp First Team All-America (2022)
• First Team AP All-SEC (2022)
• First Team All-SEC (2022)
• Co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Week 11, 2022)
• SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Week 10, 2022)
• First Team All-Sun Belt (2021)
• Second Team All-Sun Belt (2020)
• Two-time Joe Moore Award Semifinalist (2020-21)
• Shaun Alexander Freshman All-American (2019)

Video:

Pros:

• Torrence is a huge guard prospect at 6-5 347lbs – he’s well proportioned, equally well balanced, and super strong
• Torrence is the only four-year starter we have ever scouted that has never surrendered a single sack during his entire career. What makes this even more special is the fact he has played over 3000 snaps!
• Dominates in the run game – we’ve seen him rag doll defenders multiple times – crazy raw power
• He’s a mauler and power driver reminiscent of Larry Allen (Cowboy/49er)
• Has strong hands and is able to consistently under the pads of rushers and shepherd them aside in pass protection
• Surprising lateral quickness given his immense size
• He’s extremely light on his feet for a 300-pounder, a natural knee-bender who plays with balance and leverage
• Hand placement is excellent, and Torrence shows a good understanding of angles when climbing upfield
• Confident in his abilities – could have stayed in Lousiana but wanted to showcase his talents at a higher level
• Has experience at both guard spots – regarded as a right guard prospect but was elite as a freshman when playing on the left.
• Sells trap block and can turn to seal. Fluid getting to and adjusting at the second level.

Cons:

• Can be susceptible to speed rushers. Has only good quickness off the snap and doesn’t possess the acceleration to corral defenders once they cross his face
• Often gets too high in his sets, sacrificing some of his power, and Torrence doesn’t always show great coordination between his upper and lower body when sliding back in pass protection.
• Torrence has good overall vision, however, he sometimes misses the block in a scrum. Sometimes a little to pick up the blitz
• He’s often too mechanical as a pass protector, oversetting and getting beat inside

Summary:

In 2021 as a junior Torrence saw action in 12 games and totaled 807 snaps. He gave up 4 QB hurries, one QB hit, and no sacks while playing most of his snaps at right guard.

After season’s end Torrence looking for a step-up in competition transferred to Florida where as a senior Torrence saw action in 11 games and played a total of 698 snaps for the Gators. He allowed a solid 8 QB hurries, no QB hits, and once again no sacks while playing at right guard.

Round-2 (50th)

Drew Sanders, LB/EDGE, Arkansas

HT: 6’4
WT: 235 lbs

Accolades:

• Finalist for the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker
• 2022 Unanimous All-American in his single season at Arkansas
• 2022 First Arkansas linebacker to earn First-Team All-America honors from the AP since Ronnie Caveness in 1964
• 2022 First-Team All-SEC by the AP, Coaches, Pro Football Focus, and USA Today

Video:

Pros:

• He’s at his best in the pass rush. While he’s undersized for the edge, Sanders is flexible and twitchy, showing an explosive first step and the ability to dip and bend around blockers.
• Handles misdirection well with quick change-of-direction ability. Comes downhill quickly against the run when Sanders has an open lane.
• Sanders had good position versatility – can play as an inside linebacker or an edge rusher
• At Arkansas was massively productive during 2022 as he led the team in tackles, pressures, and sacks
• Great first step and is usually beats his man off the snap
• His ability to anticipate gives him a legitimate sideline-to-sideline range. He’ll work hard to disengage when he has to, and he has the long arms and heavy hands to shed blocks.
• Tougher between the tackles than many expect. Fluid and quick drop into zone, covers enough ground to be Tampa-2 “MIKE” and knows where the markers are.
• One of the true straight-up edge burners in this draft class, he has the kind of skill set NFL teams covet in an edge rusher
• Flashes closing speed and agility to reach passers from the blind side or up the middle before they can escape.

Cons:

• Bites on play fakes – needs to read the play better
• While Sanders moves well laterally, he doesn’t always get there in pursuit.
• Very experienced – has had just a single season as a starter
• Not a consistent tackler – all too often we’ve seen him let runners out of his grasp
• Still very inexperienced in coverage – in his best year in 2022 he surrendered a QB rating when targetted off 88.0
• Sanders is on the small side, and his frame is pretty much maxed out. Despite his effort and intensity, he’ll simply get swallowed up at times.
• Despite being highly productive he’s still inexperienced and needs to develop a larger repertoire of pass-rush moves

Summary:

As a sophomore for the Crimson Tide in 2021 Sanders played in 11 games and took part in 284 snaps for the Crimson Tide as part of a rotation. He recorded 17 tackles, 8 assists, while adding 9 stops. In coverage, Sanders made one pass breakup, and a QB rating when targetted of 98.8. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 9 total pressures, and 6 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and no sacks during the year.

After season’s end Sanders transferred to Arkansas with the goal of getting more playing time. For the Razorbacks in 2022 Sanders appeared in 12 games and played 846 snaps as he recorded 63 tackles, 27 assists while making 43 stops. In coverage, Sanders chalked up 2 pass breakups, one interception, and a decent QB rating when targetted of 88.0. As a pass rusher, he produced a huge 39 total pressures, which included 25 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and an impressive 11 sacks on the year.

Round-3 (82nd)

Joe Tippman, IOL, Wisconsin

HT: 6’6
WT: 313 lbs

Accolades:

• 2022: Honorable mention All-Big Ten (Consensus), Academic All-Big Ten
• 2021: Rimington Trophy preseason watch list
• 2021: All-Big Ten honorable mention (consensus), Academic All-Big Ten
• 2020: Academic All-Big Ten
• High School – All-Summit Athletic Conference honoree as a senior, serving as team captain, he was the league MVP

Video:

Pros:

• Huge mauler at center 6-6 and weighing in at 317lbs
• He’ll consistently finish blocks, dropping on defenders when Tippmann has them on the ground. Tippmann shows good awareness reacting to twists and stunts as a pass protector, and he has the strength to anchor against bigger defensive linemen.
• Hugely respected by coaches and players alike – won the league MVP award which is super rare for an offensive lineman
• Made Bruce Feldman’s Freak’s List – ranked #28. He wrote, “Tippmann is a terrific combination of strength (635-pound back squat and 455-pound bench) and athleticism, clocking a 4.31 pro agility time and a 1.65 10-yard split, which would’ve been faster than any O-lineman at the NFL combine this year.”
• Has big powerful hands – with outstanding grip strength
• He consistently plays beyond the whistle. He has good enough feet to hold his own in pass protection, particularly when factoring in his effort.
• Has a strong, flexible core, and the ability to absorb and anchor against the bull rush as a pass protector.
• Plays well in space and is an outstanding pulling blocker – puts his elite speed to good use on sweeps
• He’s a fluid mover in pass protection, with great coordination between his upper and lower body. Tippmann sets with a wide base has the requisite core strength and plays with natural balance, capable of sitting back and handling power.

Cons:

• Standing at 6-6 he’s probably too tall for the position – looks more like a tackle. Shorter defenders can easily get under his hands and win the leverage battle – driving him back
• He’ll occasionally stop his feet when delivering a punch, and Tippmann doesn’t play with ideal balance when moving back into his set. He’ll often struggle to mirror if he can’t win early on passing plays.
• Needs to watch his discipline and commits too many holding penalties (6 in 2022)
• Has good-not-great feet. Dealing with speed if forced to the edge will likely be a problem, especially because he’s more comfortable moving forward as a run blocker than he is retreating as a pass protector.
• Despite being 317lbs – he could do with adding some more mass – looks a little bit lean for the position
• Tippmann often plays too high, allowing speed-to-power rushers to knock him back and off balance.
• His footwork is only average and needs refinement

Summary:

In 2020 as a freshman Tippmann saw action in just one game and played a total of 11 snaps for the Badgers.

As a sophomore in 2021 he played in 12 games and a total of 687 snaps. He conceded just 2 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and not a single sack while playing at center.

In 2022 as a junior Tippmann saw action in 12 games and totaled 758 snaps. He gave up just 2 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and one sack.

Information in this article first appeared on NFL Draft Buzz and is used with permission. Find the latest coverage, analysis, and player rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft at nfldraftbuzz.com

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